Get Better Audio While Shooting Video With a Smartphone or Tablet

Everyone is shooting video with their smartphones, mobile cameras, iPad and tablets these days but often forget that audio is as important as video quality; getting better audio on any mobile device, however, can be a real challenge.

Nowadays, most mobile devices, like cellular smartphones, iPads, and tablets have an excellent video camera and recording features that allow you to record high-quality videos with a minimum of 720p HD resolution. These features allow almost anyone with a recent mobile device to record anything that he wants in glorious high definition and actually make the video look pretty close to professional with a little proper filming technique that is easy to learn.

However, the biggest drawback of shooting video with a mobile device is the quality of the audio captured can be terrible. Most microphones on smartphones and mobile devices are omnidirectional, super sensitive and have an extraordinarily small capsule without a lot of range; in plain speak, these mics generally suck for creating quality videos. So what the video creator usually finds after shooting his or her next blockbuster video on their smartphone or mobile device’s camera is that the recorded video might look great but the terrible audio quality makes the video almost unbearable to watch.

So, how can you solve the problem of getting better audio from your mobile phone video?

Here are 6 tips to get better audio while shooting video on your mobile device:

1. CHOOSE WHERE YOU SHOOT YOUR VIDEO PROPERLY

The first key to getting better audio for videos made on smartphones, iPads, tablets and other mobile devices with video cameras is to choose where you are shooting your video carefully. The place where you shoot your video matters, because of the nature of your mobile device’s microphone that can easily pick noises from the environment. So, for instance, if you are taking a shot in an outdoor environment, with the windy weather, then there is a big chance that your audio quality will be poor. But, if you choose to record your video in a quiet place, indoors, then you will be able to increase your audio quality significantly since there will be less noise picked by your mobile device’s microphone.

2. EDIT YOUR AUDIO WITH A NEW TRACK

If you have already recorded very nice video, but the audio is less than ideal, it is a good idea for you to edit your video with a better audio track. For the new audio track, use a high-quality audio recording device to ensure that you get an excellent result for your recording. If you cannot replace dialogue consider adding a voiceover or soundtrack; music, sound effects, and ambient noise might all be a good replacement. Then, you can use your favorite video editing tool to simply remove the camera’s recorded audio with the better audio track. This can solve your poor audio problem quickly and effectively.

3. USE AN EXTERNAL AUDIO RECORDING DEVICE

There are some great external microphones available for your mobile device. You will use this external microphone as a replacement for your internal smartphone microphone while shooting your video with your cellular smartphone or mobile device’s camera. If you use an external microphone or handy digital recorder while recording your video footage, you will be able to get excellent audio quality for your recording if you keep the rest of our tips in mind. Many of these external mics are more directional and designed to cancel out ambient or unwanted sound while you are recording.

4. KEEP THE SMARTPHONE OR MOBILE VIDEO CAMERA CLOSE TO YOUR AUDIO SOURCE

Keeping the microphone you are using to record as close to the audio’s source as possible is, perhaps, the most important tip for getting better audio for your videos we can give you. Distance creates problems for both video and audio. While shooting far away from your audio source, you will record more ambient or unwanted noise and the audio levels of the sound you do want, begin to drop dramatically after it leaves the source. Is it easier or harder to hear someone speaking normally when they are close or far away? Think of recording audio this way too. So, if you are shooting an interview, it is better to keep your audio recording device close to your subject to keep their voice focused, clear and audible.

5. KEEP YOUR SMARTPHONE OR MOBILE’S VIDEO CAMERA STEADY WHILE RECORDING VIDEO

While you record video with your smartphone, iPad, tablet or another camera, don’t handle or shake your mobile device a lot; it will only make the audio quality, as well as the video quality, worse. Unnecessary handling or jostling of the mobile device, while you are recording, will cause a lot of unwanted noise. For better audio quality use a tripod to keep your smartphone or external microphone or digital recorder steady and free from unwanted handling or vibration while you are shooting video.

6. HIRE A FREELANCE PROFESSIONAL AUDIO ENGINEER FROM VIDEOTOORDER.COM!

Don’t let the title “Audio Engineer” scare you. Soon, we will have dozens of freelancers ready and able to help you get the best quality audio production to meet your needs. VideoToOrder.com’s audio specialists will help you clean up your audio tracks by removing unwanted background noises, hiss, clicks, and pops. We’ll offer professional voice-over artists and musical geniuses who can create a royalty-free soundtrack for you, too. You get to choose the service provider who best matches your needs, quality, and budget. If you need professional-quality audio, take a look and see what our freelancers will have to offer.

These tips can help you to get a better audio quality in your video recording, allowing you to enjoy a professional video recorded with your smartphone, iPad, tablet or other mobile device’s video camera.

Author: lscottharrell

L Scott Harrell is a startup founder and CEO of InnerJam, Inc. His work is focused on developing online projects involving personal development, community building and destination marketing.